Jackie Chan

Stars

Jackie Chan is best known as an action hero who does all his own stunts, but that may shortchange his versatility as a performer. His kung fu abilities have long been combined with strong comedic timing, whether in the “Rush Hour” movies or in his earlier Chinese films, which often found him taking down bad guys with gusto but succumbing to the demands of high-maintenance girlfriends. And in the Chinese-speaking world, Chan is also a popular singer.

In fact, in a 2010 interview with The Times, Chan said that he wanted to emphasize his acting chops over action in the next stage of his career. “I want the audience to know I’m an actor who can fight, not just an action star,” he said. “An action star’s life is very short. They do the same kick, the same punch. The audience gets tired. Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, [they do something new and] everybody wants to see it. I want to be an Asian Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino.”